Boots Echinacea Tablets

Read all of this leaflet carefully because it contains important information for you.

This medicine is a traditional herbal medicinal product available without prescription to treat minor conditions. However, you still need to take it carefully to get the best results from it.

• Keep this leaflet, you may need to read it again
• Ask your pharmacist if you need more information or advice
• You must contact a pharmacist or doctor if your symptoms worsen or do not improve after 10 days

Do not take:

• If you are allergic to any of the ingredients (see “What is in this medicine”) or to plants from the Asteraceae or Compositae family e.g. artichokes, daisies, marigolds
• If you have tuberculosis
• If you have sarcoidosis (a connective tissue disease)
• If you have an autoimmune disease (e.g. multiple sclerosis or collagenoses)
• If you are having treatment which reduces your natural response to infection (immunosuppression)
• If you have a condition which reduces your natural response to infection (e.g. HIV infection or AIDS)
• If you have problems with your white blood cells (you may have been told you have leukaemia or agranulocytosis)
• If you have had an organ or bone marrow transplant
• If you are having any treatment for cancer
• If you are taking ciclosporin or methotrexate (for psoriasis, rheumatism or following transplant surgery)
• If you are prone to allergies (you have eczema, asthma or allergic skin reactions)
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Other important information

Consult your doctor before taking this product:

• If you are prone to develop allergic reactions. Echinacea can trigger severe and life-threatening allergic reactions in patients who have a tendency to allergic reactions.

If you take other medicines

You should not take this medicine if you are taking certain medicines (see “Do not take”).

If you are not sure that your medicine is on this list, or you are unsure about interactions with any other medicines, talk to your pharmacist. This includes medicines prescribed by your doctor and medicine you have bought for yourself.

If you get any of these side effects, stop taking the tablets:

• Allergic reactions such as skin rash (which can sometimes be severe and include peeling and blistering of the skin), swelling of the skin due to fluid, swelling of the facial area, neck, tongue or throat, shrinking of the airway of the lungs with obstruction (bronchospasm), asthma and life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock) – seek medical help if severe
• Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord which may show as drowsiness, confusion, stiff neck, speech problems along with flu-like symptoms, general deterioration
• Painful lumps on the shins
• Low blood platelet count and destruction of blood cells, sometimes caused by antibodies (you may notice this if you have a blood test)
• Dry eyes and mouth caused by the immune system reducing glands in the eye and mouth
• Kidney problems

If you take this medicine for a long time (more than 8 weeks) you may get:

• Low white blood cell count which may cause unusual bruising and an increase in the number of infections that you get (e.g. sore throats, mouth ulcers, flu-like symptoms)

If any side effect becomes severe, or you notice any side effect not listed here, please tell your pharmacist or doctor.

Reporting of side effects:

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.